Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jayson Werth belted the game-winning two- run home run in the bottom of the ninth to cap a four-run rally that lifted Philadelphia to a 7-6 comeback win over Washington to complete a three-game sweep.
Phillies Rally Past Nationals In Ninth On Jayson Werth Walk-Off
Trailing 6-3 going into their last at-bat, the Phillies drew within one on a two-run single by Ryan Howard that was followed by Werth's blast to straightaway centerfield on a second 3-2 pitch from Drew Storen (3-4), who did not retire any of the four batters he faced in the frame.
"Storen just didn't have it today," said Washington manager Jim Riggleman. "The Phillies are a great ballclub and showed great character."
Rookie Vance Worley (1-1) earned his first big league win with a scoreless ninth for the Phillies, who have won seven straight and improved to 15-3 in September.
Philadelphia kept Atlanta, which was victorious earlier in the day over the Mets, three games behind in the NL East division race heading into the start of a crucial head-to-head three-game series Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies magic number stands at 10 for clinching their fourth straight division title.
Placido Polanco led off the decisive ninth with a single and moved to third when Chase Utley followed with a double. Howard laced a single to center to knock in both runners to trim the Nationals lead to 6-5.
Werth fouled off a 3-2 fastball before getting another one and crushing it to the highest, deepest part of the park, clearing the 19-foot-high wall 409 feet away to help finish off the Phillies’ 10th series sweep of the season.
"It looked like we were dead in the water, then all of a sudden, we had a resurgence," said Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino. "That's what this team does so well. We keep playing. We play 27 outs."
Danny Espinoa's home run off Danys Baez in the seventh extended the Nats lead to 5-3 and an RBI single by Willie Harris in the eighth against J.C. Romero gave the visitors a three-run edge.
Missed opportunities throughout the game was the story for the victors, who got singles from Polanco and Utley to start the seventh before Sean Burnett struck out Howard and Werth and got Raul Ibanez to line out.
The Phillies left two runners on in the first and then put runners at the corners with nobody out in the second inning but couldn't score after Wilson Valdez popped out, Joe Blanton struck out and Victorino flied out.
Harris then led off the top of the third with a home run to get the visitors on the board.
Philadelphia finally broke through in the fourth inning.
Werth led off with a single, moved to third on an Ibanez base hit and both runners scored when Brian Schneider doubled to deep centerfield.
Polanco was hit by a pitch to start the fifth and stole second base as Howard fanned for the second out. Werth followed with a base hit to left that delivered Polanco to make it a 3-1 game and chased Nationals' starter Yunesky Maya from the hill.
Ian Desmond singled to lead off the sixth, stole second and remained there when Adam Dunn walked with two outs. After Roger Bernadina popped out, Michael Morse took a 3-2 pitch from Blanton the other way for a three-run homer to right that put the Nats back in the lead.
Victorino was thrown out of the game in the bottom half of the frame by third base umpire Angel Hernandez after being called out on strikes and throwing down his helmet and bat in frustration.
Blanton was charged with four runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out eight over his six innings, while Maya gave up three runs on six hits and a pair of walks over 4 2/3 in his third big league start.
The Phillies have won 19 of their last 23 games...They are 10-5 against the Nats this season, including a 7-2 mark at home...Philadelphia is 36-24 against the NL East and has won 21 of its last 26 games within the division...The Phils are 27-9 at home over Washington since the start of the 2007 season. Philadelphia is 9-1 in Blanton’s last 10 home starts...He has allowed four earned runs or more in eight of his 11 career turns against the Nationals. Utley and Howard have reached base in 19 straight games while Victorino lost an 11-game hit streak after going 0-for-4 before his ejection...The Phillies are 70-25 on Sundays at home since the opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004.
See More:
